Last month, Melinda Shaw, the former executive director of the annual Pride March, asked the city to transform the crossswalk with the colors the gay community has adopted, preferably in time for this year's march on May 3. Shaw said it had come to her attention that other communities, such as Vancouver, British Columbia, had created similar crosswalks.

The Board of Public Works approved the project and sent the request to the Transportation and Parking Commission, which also signed off on it. Northampton Planning Director Wayne Feiden, who is on the commission, said the only issue raised was whether or not a rainbow crosswalk would conform to federal safety standards.

"Under federal guidelines, only white and yellow are allowed," he said.

The commission opted to alternate white stripes with colored ones, a pattern it feels will ensure safety.

"If it's out of the ordinary, we feel it's good because drivers will notice it," Feiden said. "If it's too out of the ordinary, it could be a distraction and result in crashes."

City Engineer James Laurila said the paint has been ordered but has not yet arrived. The crosswalk will feature six colors in addition to white, he said. The $1,600 cost of the paint is being paid for through private donations. The Department of Public Works is not charging Shaw for labor.

Laurila hopes to get the crosswalk repainted by the May 3 Pride March but said parts of the current crosswalk have to be sanded away first.